Las Aves Archipelago
Federal Dependency |
The Las Aves Archipelago is a pristine
History
Las Aves was the site of a major Dutch victory over the French in 1678, when a French fleet commanded by Admiral
The entire French fleet of 13 ships was lost as a result of the Admiral's eagerness to fight. The survivors found no fresh water on Las Aves. They tried to survive on barrels of wine and salted meat that washed up ashore. But these supplies ran out and eventually they perished. The Admiral was one of the few to be rescued. On Curaçao, a Day of Thanksgiving was observed until far into the 18th century to commemorate the island's fortunate escape from being ravaged by the French.
Las Aves was considered by the Dutch as part of their West Indian possessions. In The Dutch West Indies (Amsterdam, 1836), Marten Douwes Teenstra wrote, "The Government of Curaçao also includes the uninhabited islets and rocks Little Curaçao, Aves, Roques and Orchilla."
In 1978, Venezuela and the
Geography
The archipelago consists of two atoll-like reef complexes:[5][6]
- Aves de Barlovento, the eastern group, with a fringing reef of 8 km of diameter and with three cays in the southwest
- Isla Aves de Barlovento
- Isla Tesoro
- Cayo Bubi
- Cayo de Las Bobas
- Aves de Sotavento, the western group, with Isla Maceta, a large mangrove-covered cay in the south.
- Isla Aves de Sotavento
- Isla Larga
- Cayo Tirra
- Isla Saquisaqui
- Cayos de La Colonia
- Isla Maceta
- Cayo Sterna
In total, there are 21 islets and islands in both groups. The archipelago is not to be confused with Aves Island, which is the most remote island claimed by Venezuela, far to the north.
Gallery
See also
References
- ^ Vila, Marco Aurelio. 1967: Aspectos geográficos de las Dependencias Federales. Corporación Venezolana de Fomento. Caracas. 115p.
- ^ Cervigon, Fernando. 1995: Las Dependencias Federales. Academia Nacional de la Historia. Caracas. 193p.
- ISBN 980-6427-10-6
- ^ ""Boundary delimitation Treaty between the Republic of Venezuela and the Kingdom of the Netherlands (with map), 31 March 1978 (entry into force: 15 December 1978; registration #: 17901; registration date: 17 July 1979; link to UNTS)"".
- ^ "Aves de Sotavento". Mapcarta. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
- ^ "AVES DE BARLOVENTO, Venezuela (8 a 10 abril 2012)". Tras la estela de El Duende. Retrieved 4 February 2019.